The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the financial effect on local authorities when the single tier state pension is introduced in 2016-17 and local authorities no longer receive a national insurance rebate from the contracting out of pensions.
Brandon Lewis
The Government is currently in discussions with the Local Government Association on this matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 533W, on wind power, how his Department makes decisions on planning and recoveries without centrally holding the capacity of energy schemes.
Kris Hopkins
The main consideration in the recovery of wind turbine appeals is the potential impact of the development on the surrounding area, in the particular circumstances of each appeal and its location. The generation capacity of the appeal is not a driver in the decision on whether or not the appeal should be recovered.
As I said in my earlier answer my Department does not centrally hold details of the generation capacity of wind turbine appeals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of line of business and desktop applications in local government.
Brandon Lewis
My Department has not made any estimates in this area but I do encourage local authorities to take full advantage of the efficiencies that electronic ways of working can bring.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in shire county council bus subsidies on the opportunities for social interaction of elderly and disabled people.
Brandon Lewis
The Department for Transport is the lead Department on policy and funding for buses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects to answer question No. 191956 tabled by the Rt hon. Member for Leeds Central on 13 March 2014.
Stephen Williams
I will provide a comprehensive answer to the rt. hon. Member in due course. We are currently gathering historic files, given some of the information requested predates the establishment of the National Planning Casework Unit in 2011.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, columns 322-3W, on unmanned air vehicles, whether the training of UK personnel in the six countries identified has involved unmanned aircraft actively engaged in operations.
Mr Mark Francois
Training of UK personnel in the six countries identified has not involved unmanned aircraft actively engaged in operations. Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) training has only ever occurred in non-operational environments, specifically the countries listed in my previous answer on 27 March 2014. Army UAS actively engaged in operations have always been, and continue to be, remotely piloted solely by fully trained personnel operating on the ground in the country in which the operation is active. This has only been in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2014, Official Report, column 490W, on the Royal Air Force, if he will provide details of (a) each base at which RAF personnel from the Remotely Piloted Air System division are stationed and (b) the branch and specialisation of every such person.
Mr Mark Francois
RAF Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) personnel are based at RAF Waddington and Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.
RAF Personnel are from the following branches or specialisation:
|
Branch/Specialisation |
|
Pilot |
|
Sensor Operator |
|
Mission Intelligence Coordinator |
|
Operations |
|
Engineer |
|
Administration |
RAF RPAS Squadrons can also include personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has had any discussions with the government of Afghanistan concerning future basing of UK unmanned aircraft systems in that country after 2014.
Mr Mark Francois
To date, there have been no discussions with the Government of Afghanistan about the future basing of UK unmanned aircraft systems in Afghanistan after 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2014, Official Report, column 703W, on RAF Mildenhall, whether his Department maintains records of all MQ-1 Predators carried in aircraft which refuel in the air or by landing at RAF Mildenhall; and whether he will disclose the date of each such flight over the last three years.
Mr Mark Francois
The Ministry of Defence has no record of any aircraft carrying MQ-1 Predators air-to-air refuelling over the UK, or landing at RAF Mildenhall to refuel, over the last three years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth of 23 December 2013, regarding a review of a discharge from the British Army.
Anna Soubry
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no record of receiving the letter from the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth. The MOD requested a copy of the letter on 3 April 2014 and will respond shortly.